Chapter 264: Chapter 264
The Crown Prince followed to enter the carriage, halting at the door to watch the Lady seating comfortably.
’Hm? What is it now?’ — Marianne thought at the man frozen in place that glimpsed her up and down in apparent ponder.
’Is something out of place?? I’m not flashing you am I?’ — She thought, also looking down at herself.
"... My Lady, could you make space for me next to you?"
’Huh??? There’s space right there, though?’
"..."
Giving a glance at the seat opposite to hers, she then tilted her head to show the man that space was not a problem. Ignoring the man’s intention.
"I do not wish to seat there."
’... Are you a kid?? Sigh... Okay, I’ll seat there... Kid Prince–’ — The foreigner thought in naivety, standing only to be stopped immediately in her motion.
"I will not seat across you, my Lady."
’...oh..... Ooooh, that’s... That’s what you meant...’
Lowering her head, Marianne then understood. Moving as requested to the side so he could share the seat.
’... Is it perhaps a manner thing? Some kind of Protocol for Royalty or something...?’
The outsider soul commenced thinking, searching for an excuse for the Prince’s firm wish. Hoping to calm the bloom of pink in her cheeks because of the brush his hand had against the nude skin of her limb when halting her movement.
Zeleskiaz took his seat after closing the door behind him, glimpsing at the woman with composure as the hand that touched her went to feel its graced fingertips grow hot by the light touch.
"That is... The Lady’s appearance today is..."
"..."
’What can I say about it...?’ — Zeleskiaz thought, troubled for no words came to mind once deciding to compliment her.
Taking advantage of the pause before the carriage commenced to move, the Crown Prince also wished to court her with poetry as her father had... As his soul always did while missing her presence... As he had done unknowingly before... Yet.
’It’s... Nerve-wracking when the compliment is plotted... How can I... So she learns how I see her... What words should I gift...’
Peeking at the woman that lowered her head in shy wait, Zeleskiaz lamented the obstacle his ignorance in the ways of courtship meant at this time.
When giving a simple compliment wouldn’t satisfy him... Unaware that he had become the third man in this day to encounter such hardship.
"You look pretty, My Lady."
"..." — She lightly nodded in appreciation, timid while holding back an inward smile.
’... I am a fool.’ — To her response, the Prince thought. Regretting strongly the tongue he had. Turning away to look outside the squared window in shame, scowling deeply for he believed his words were pathetic.
Nonetheless, the woman that also watched outside from her side... felt pleasant as the carriage moved.
Even though she repeated what she had told before in secrecy.
’You are lacking... But I still feel nice hearing simple compliments... So... You are also lucky, hehe...’
Silence conquered their route for some time. Both man and woman took the pause that quiet granted to calm the respective turmoil both experienced in this enclosed privacy.
One being overly complacent by few words, felt the chaotic turmoil as a fluttery sensation wrecked her chest. Unwilling to settle down as the move of the carriage caused the essence of him noticeable. Meanwhile, the other berated himself... In a frustrated upheaval that went around his whole in destructive regret for lacking what he deemed the woman deserved.
’... Haaa... How troubling... I’m getting drowsy with this nice sensation...’ — The woman thought at some point, closing her eyes as the sensation she had been feeling commenced to feel comfortable when mixed with the nice weather of the initial days Summer blessed the Realm.
Sleep was threatening to invade her as amenity was slowly being earned. Nonetheless, she would delay her rest for a tad longer as the man then broke the stillness along the growing noise of multitude, the more their way was made to the Palace’s Gates.
"My Lady... I suggest you close the curtain on your side... People are to become chaotic if not only they watch the match of your Carriage, but also your figure." — Smirking, Zeleskiaz warned Marianne, slipping into his words a discreet compliment that felt slightly redeeming.
She met his yearnful and anticipating hues for a moment to then glance outside, far ahead where people stood in wish to see her; holding flowers and cheering stronger the closer her Carriage got to the closed and guarded Gates.
Going back and forward, impressed by what was soon to be crossed, Marianne peeked outside interested to see what her presence now signified to the Empire’s people.
’... What the hell??... We’re d*mn famous, Anne... Ah~ nope. No~pe~ We heard you, Kinky. We are closing the curtain. I already feel anxious..... Bruh... How do they breathe?? They are all stacked up!? Ah~ I would faint. Poor people... But you ain’t seeing a glimpse of us. We are "shy" to not say..."Allergic to big amounts of humans", heh. Introvert in the past and introvert in the new life. That I am, darling.’
Ultimately turning her head away as her hand closed the small curtain in fading energy for her nature was not accustomed to such great attention from the masses.
’We are probably the equivalent to what an idol was back in my world... Nice. But not that nice... If I could go around yelling and pumping them up then it would be nicer... But no microphone, no fun. Hence not nice... For now.’
Closing her eyes after finding satisfaction in her distinct contemplations from her past, Marianne was now to only listen to the cheers from the people as her carriage went through the multitude, which would open the path in respect to the Ninth inside.
"It’s the Ninth! Oh, high may the blessings you bring, Glorious Lady! Pristina Pars!"
’Hm? T–that sounds nice...’
"Lady Pristina Pars! The Ninth! We pray for happiness to fill thou life as fully as thou beauty!!"
’... Keep talking... I like what I’m hearing, hehe.’ — The witty girl thought, lightly leaning to hear more of the distinguishable cheers people gave.
"Flowers! Calla’s of wonderous hues we brought for thou, Pristina!"
"Pristina!" "Pristina!!"
"Bless the Land, Pristina Pars!"
’My~ I’m not a god~ Fufu~’
"Let us glimpse at you Pristina!"
"Pristina Pars!"
"..."
The eager voices of men and women, along with the youthful of hopeful children made her halt any entertaining thought with a fond sentiment.
Marianne was inclined to grant the people’s petition as more her unique Surname was called with yearning by their voices.
To the point her hand lifted, wanting to lightly open the curtain to see the faces of those wishing to witness her presence.
Nevertheless, her escort’s hand came to stop her limb from reaching. Causing them to finally touch and graze stares after a long way crossed.
"... I suggest... For My Lady to wait for the Festival... His Majesty is to prepare a public ceremony to be carried... Let the people wait and fathom dreams of your greatness until then."
"!..." — ’..."Fathom dreams... Of our greatness"..... Gosh, did you hear that, Anne?..... Yeah. We’re freaking great... Keep dreaming you peasants–ack! I’M JOKING! D*MN IT!!!’
The foreigner’s playful nature was reprimanded by her sharer soul, fortunately only summoning a flinch in her hands. Although a substantial hit was felt in her interiors.
"... Do resist the intrigue to peek, My Lady." — Zeleskiaz misunderstood. Catching a better hold of her hand to lower it and shackle it with his against the space between them.
"His Majesty, would not be pleased if his plans for your Public introduction were hindered."
Although the man could not care less about what his father found pleasant and whatnot... He used such reason to restrain her hand.
’... Alright. I won’t... So...’ — Troubled by the warmth of his palm over her hand, Marianne made her fingers move in an urge to free herself. — ’Won’t you... Uh... Let go?... Uhm... Kinky?... Crown Prince??’
Zeleskiaz had turned his head to feign ignorance of her wish to escape. Knowing that the city would be crossed sooner than later and taking advantage of her silence for the first time, the Crown Prince made it so she wouldn’t be able to write either, at least for the length of the path people were to guard their trip wanting to see the Ninth.
’It is a shame the Capital is not bigger... Grant this entertainment to me, My Lady... I promise to return it once reaching the landscape leading to your Household.’